Japanese Whalers

[Whickerman]

Looks like it's possible that Japan could be heading towards having enough votes to overturn the ban on commercial whaling, with countries like Israel wavering. What do you think? Anyone see the Japanese side?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Well, as you say, they may overturn the ban, so clearly lots do. Or are going to receive so much in aid for voting in a certain way they'll say they do.

In essence, the Japanese arguement is that whale meat is a part of their traditional diet and therefore they have a right to keep hunting the whales. This might be fine if there were a sustainable number of whales, but if the ICO ban is overturned most environmentalists agree that it will probably result in extinction of some whale species within a few years. Additionally, we used to test whether a woman was a witch by throwing her in a pond and seeing if she floated but we seem to manage alright without that particular tradition, so tradition alone doesn't provide an imperative to behave in a certain way.

[Drusilla1S]

No, I don't agree with the Japanese. As far as I am aware there is not a single product made from whales that cannot be produced more efficiently using alternative raw materials.

The scientific argument for the widescale killing of Minkie whales has long been seen as bogus, too. I find it hilarious that the Japanese official in the attached site condemns western opponents as arrogant. Japanese men are the most arrogant, racist and sexist people I have ever met in my travels and I hope they do not succeed in inflicting more widescale barbarity on the whale population.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5085730.stm

[Drusilla1S]

Ooh! I wish I'd written Waldo's answer. It's so much more thoughtful and rational than my rant about the Japanese. Sadly, I have big issues with Japanese men.

[Pippa68]

I was going to post a lengthly reply but everything waldo has said I agree with..thanks mate, I couldn't have said it better :o)

[ianess]

Seems to me as if Japan has been providing foreign aid to a whole lot of other countries, some of whom don't even have coastlines, and are now looking for votes in return for their investment.
Sneaky and arrogant....but as usual money talks.
Don't try to make sense of it....just feel sorry for the whales.

[Playbill]

According to a report I heard on the radio today, whale meat is becoming much less popular even in Japan. The reporter said that they are storing vast amounts of blubber. This makes further whaling even more untenable.

[jno]

the Japanese say they haven't got nearly enough votes this time round to end the moratorium; so the whales are safe for a while longer.

[Gef]

Why all the fuss? Let them kill whales if they want to. When they are gone they are gone. It's happened before and no doubt it will happen again.

[tellboy]

I think we (the UK) should have a reciprocal agreement and be allowed to harpoon Japanese Tourists even though they do not form part of my diet.:-)